No clear standout in Washington Oaks

AUBURN, Wash. – In most years, the $65,000 Washington Oaks, to be run Saturday at Emerald Downs, would lure all the leading 3-year-old fillies in the Northwest and maybe a couple from California for one final added-money event to determine division honors here. But heavy attrition has scrubbed this year’s Oaks of its luster, and none of the top four 3-year-old fillies to compete at Emerald this year will participate.

Ole’s Miss, who captured the 1-1/16-mile Kent Handicap last month, likely would have been a strong favorite in the Oaks, but she is ticketed for other races at her home base at Hastings in Vancouver, British Columbia. Both Chu and You, Emerald’s leading 2-year-old filly in 2013, and Find Your Spot, the winner of the Irish Day Handicap in June, have fallen by the wayside in recent weeks. City by the Bay came in to win the season-opening Seattle Handicap but returned to California shortly thereafter.

The upside for the seven who will compete in the Oaks is that a rich purse and black type are there for the taking. Mylast Sweet Pea, who ran the best race of her career to finish a close second in the Kent at 20-1, could start as the favorite, unless that role falls to Lady Fifty Two, a newcomer from the Bay Area trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. Champagne Gal, a recent allowance winner at Hastings, is the other leading contender in a lineup that includes outsiders Cheeky Stone, Papa’s Flashy Girl, Quiet Wisdom, and Sunpenny.

Mylast Sweet Pea and Lady Fifty Two could stage their own private battle up front. Mylast Sweet Pea dueled through quick splits in the Kent, put away Chu and You, and then fought back gamely after being collared by Ole’s Miss. Lady Fifty Two will make her first start around two turns and is likely to be forwardly placed after a series of sharp sprint efforts. Can she get the distance? None of these fillies has ever won beyond a mile, and the final furlong could be telling.

Key contenders

Mylast Sweet Pea (Last 3 Beyers: 76-64-65)

* Mylast Sweet Pea has perked up since being sent long for the first time June 29. In the Kent, she set a hotly contested pace, running successive quarter miles in 23.32 seconds, 23.24, 24.14, and 24.41 and the final sixteenth in 6.13. She owns what looks to be a commanding pace advantage in the Oaks.

* Mylast Sweet Pea is by Grindstone out of a Game Plan mare – she has the pedigree to enjoy a route of ground. Grindstone won the Kentucky Derby, and Game Plan’s dam, Cadillacing, was a full sister to the great Easy Goer.

Lady Fifty Two (Last 3 Beyers: 72-58-72)

* Lady Fifty Two has improved steadily since launching her 3-year-old campaign in March. In her last start, at Sacramento, she raced evenly to finish third against older fillies and mares in a second-level allowance sprint. It was her first on-the-board finish in three starts on dirt.

* Hollendorfer has made a habit of dropping by to steal purses. He does not keep a string of horses at Emerald but has six stakes victories here.